Make Cheese the Star of Your Salad, And You Just May Grow to Love It

Here’s a phrase I hear too often: “Gosh, I’d love to have that much cheese in my fridge, but the problem is I’d just eat it all in one sitting.” Artisan cheese is one of the healthiest foods out there when you eat it in the right quantity. To pursue a diet that’s both cheesy and wholesome, we must learn what a healthy portion of artisan cheese looks like. In terms of weight, a modest serving is about an ounce. Depending on the type of cheese, an ounce can have anywhere from under 100 calories to almost 200 calories, as well as varying ratios of fat to protein. With all high-quality cheeses, however, those are going to be some of the most fulfilling, nutrient-dense calories available. Cheese has everything you need to survive except fiber and vitamin C. This makes a portion of cheese, in addition to an ideal snack to replace empty calories, an ideal main component of a dish, replacing the meat, fish, or tofu you might otherwise use.